Greek Mythology A Review of Gods and Heroes. What is a myth? Traditional story Uses supernatural to explain natural events Explains the culture’s view.

Greek MythologyA Review

ofGods and Heroes

What is a myth?

•Traditional story •Uses supernatural to explain natural events•Explains the culture’s view of the universe and how man behaves

Why Study Greek Mythology?

•Provides information about ancient Greek life, culture, and values•Many allusions to Greek mythology today •Midas Muffler•FTD•Ford Mercury•Apollo spacecraft

•Exciting, fun stories to read

Cronus

•Cronus hears prophecy that his son will overthrow him•Cronus swallows every child his wife has•His wife gives him a rock in a blanket and takes baby Zeus away to grow up somewhere else•Zeus comes back and overthrows Cronus

The Olympians

Zeus

•Supreme god of the Olympians•Fathered many characters in mythology•Symbol: lightning bolt

Zeus

Hera

•Zeus’s sister and wife

•Jealous protector of marriage

•Punishes the women Zeus falls in love with

Poseidon

•God of the Seas and Waters

•“The Earthshaker”•Symbol: trident

Hades

•God of the Underworld/ Dead•Cerberus – 3-headed dog•Kidnaps Persephone

Demeter

•Goddess of the Harvest

•A Goddess of the Earth•When Persephone gone, the earth dies

Athena

•Goddess of Wisdom and War

•Sprang from Zeus’s head•Symbol: owl

Ares

•God of War

•Son of Zeus and Hera

•Bloodthirsty and merciless

Apollo

•God of Light/Sun and Music•Brother of Artemis•Symbol: lyre

Artemis

•Goddess of the Moon/ Hunt•Tells Zeus she wants to be a maiden for ever•Sister to Apollo•Symbol: silver bow and arrows

Hermes•Messenger of the Gods•Appears in more myths than any other character•Symbols: caduceus, winged sandals and hat

Persephone

•Goddess of the Underworld•Abducted by Hades – her mother, Demeter, is heartbroken•Persephone must stay in Underworld for half the year because she ate pomegranate seeds – one month for every year

Perseus and Medusa

•If you look Medusa in the face, you turn to stone•Perseus kills her by cutting her head off while looking at her reflection in his shield

Hercules

•Demi-god – son of Zeus•Kills his family while crazed by Hera•Completes 12 labors (difficult assignments)

Theseus and the Minotaur•Theseus is a Prince•Every year, 14 youth sent to and killed by Minotaur•Volunteers to be one of 14•Helped by Adriane (princess) – ball of thread – helps him get out of maze•Kills the Minotaur•Becomes king after father throws himself off cliff

Orpheus and Eurydice

•Orpheus - musician•His wife Eurydice killed by

snake Underworld•Hades agrees Eurydice can

leave and follow Orpheus out•Orpheus looks back she

is gone forever•He is sad – eventually

ripped apart by forest nymphs to Hades joins Eurydice

King Midas and the Golden Touch

•King Midas get in trouble by ruling against Apollo in music contest gets donkey ears•Then granted one

wish wants everything he touches to turn to gold•He hugs his daughter she turns to gold horrified•Magic ability removed

Pandora’s Box

•Curious Pandora created as punishment to man – for stealing fire•Given box of gifts from

god•Pandora opens box•All world ills come out

and go throughout world•Hope is left

Jason and the Golden Fleece

•Jason seeks his proper throne•King tells him that Jason can be king if he gets the golden fleece•Jason and Argonauts get the fleece•Jason becomes king